back-up-Program faculty

The teaching team for our PhD in Nutrition and MS in Nutritional Studies is drawn from different parts of the University of Hawaii.  This means – more experience for you!   The world is more blended than ever before and we want to give you a similar experience in your higher degree program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.  Please take the time to get to know us a bit better.

Cheryl Albright, PhD, MPH
Professor, School of Nursing & Office Public Health Studies

Research Interests
Physical Activity,  Energy Balance, Body fat distribution in ethnic minorities.

Recent Publications

• Wada R, Glaser D, Bantum E, Orimoto T, Steffen AD, Elia J, Albright CL. (2013) Hawaii’s multiethnic adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer:  Are their health behavior risks similar to state and national samples? Hawaii Journal of Medicine & Public Health. 72(11); 380-386.
• Vogt TM, Williams AE, Stevens VJ, Albright CL, Nigg CR, Meenan R. (2013)  Results of a Two-Year Worksite Obesity Intervention Program for Hotel Employees: The Work, Weight, and Wellness (3W) Program, a Cluster Randomized Trial. American Journal of Health Promotion, In Press.
• Albright CL, Steffen AD, Novonty R, Nigg CR, Wilkens LR, Saiki K, Yamada P, Hedemark, B, Maddock JE, Dunn AL, Brown WJ. (2012) Baseline Results from Hawaii’s Nā Mikimiki Project: A Physical Activity Intervention Tailored to Multiethnic Postpartum Women. Women and Health. 52:3, 265-291.

Jinan Banna, PhD RD CDN
Assistant Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences

Research Interests
Nutrition education, program evaluation, community nutrition, child and adolescent nutrition.

Recent Publications

• Banna JC, Kaiser LL, Drake C, Townsend MS.  Acculturation, physical activity and television viewing in Hispanic women: Findings from the 2005 California Women’s Health Survey. Public Health Nutr. 2012; 15(2): 198-207.

• Banna JC, Townsend MS. Assessing factorial and convergent validity and reliability of a food behaviour checklist for Spanish-speaking participants in U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition education programmes.  Public Health Nutr. 2011; 14(7):1165-1176.

• Banna JC, Keim NL, Townsend MS. Assessing face validity of a physical activity questionnaire for Spanish-speaking women in California. J Extension. 2011; vol 49 (5):5FEA6.

Recent Grants

• USDA, Hatch Grant. Attitudes on Diet and Physical Activity in Early Adolescents and Influence on Weight and Dietary Intake.
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Affiliate Speaker Grant for Hawaii Dietetic Association Spring Conference.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

• Galloway, J (MS Nutrition). Cost-benefit beliefs as predictors of behavior: a longitudinal study of fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity.
• Gonzalez Quezada, D (MS Nutrition). Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding dietary sodium intake among college students in Hawaii.

Marla J. Berry, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, JABSOM

Research Interests
Selenoproteins and selenium metabolism. Roles in neurological disease and metabolic syndrome.

Recent Publications

• Pitts MW, Reeves MA, Hashimoto AC, Ogawa A, Kremer P, Seale LA, Berry MJ. Deletion of Selenoprotein M Leads to Obesity Without Cognitive Deficits. J Biol Chem., 2013, 288:26121-34.
• Seale LA, Hashimoto AC, Kurokawa S, Gilman CL, Seyedali A, Bellinger FP, Raman AV, Berry MJ. Disruption of the selenocysteine lyase-mediated selenium recycling pathway leads to metabolic syndrome in mice. Mol Cell Biol. 2012, 32:4141-54.
• Raman AV, Pitts MW, Seyedali A, Hashimoto AC, Seale LA, Bellinger FP, Berry MJ. Absence of Selenoprotein P but not Selenocysteine Lyase Results in Neurological Dysfunction. Genes, Brains and Behavior, 2012 Jul;11(5):601-13.

Recent Grants

• R01 DK47320-18, NIH/NIDDK  (Berry MJ, PI)   4/11 – 3/16, Mechanism of selenoprotein synthesis in eukaryotes.
• G12 RR003061-28, NIH/NCRR (Berry MJ, PI)   9/11 – 7/16, Research Centers at Minority Institutions.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

• China Burns (MS student) Characterization of neurological deficits in Scly/Sepp1 double knockout mice.
• Penny Kremer (PhD student) Characterization of gender differences in Scly/Sepp1 double knockout mice.
• Ashley Ogawa (PhD student) Characterization of metabolic syndrome in Selenoprotein M knockout mice.
• Ali Seyedali (PhD student) Nonsense-mediated decay factors are involved in the regulation of selenoprotein mRNA levels during selenium deficiency.

Carol J Boushey, PhD, MPH, RD
Associate Research Professor, Epidemiology, University of Hawaii Cancer Center
Director, Nutrition Support Shared Resource, University of Hawaii Cancer Center

Research Interests
Nutritional epidemiology, dietary assessment, interventions, biomarkers of dietary intake.

Recent Publications

• Ettienne-Gittens R, Boushey CJ, Au D, Murphy SP, Lim U, Wilkens L. Evaluating the feasibility of utilizing the Automated Self Administered 24-hour (ASA24) dietary recall in a sample of multiethnic older adults. Procedia Food Sci 2013; 2:134-144.

• Schap TE, Zhu FM, Delp EJ, Boushey CJ. Merging dietary assessment with the adolescent lifestyle. J Human Nutr Diet 2013; Mar 13. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12071. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 23489518.

• Kerr DA, Pollard CM, Howat P, Delp EJ, Pickering M, Dhaliwal SS, Kerr KR, Pratt IS, Wright JL, Boushey CJ. Connecting Health and Technology (CHAT): protocol of a randomized controlled trial to improve nutrition behaviours using mobile devices and tailored text messaging in young adults. BMC Public Health. 2012; 22:12(1):477.

Recent Grants

• NIEH/NIH 2005-2016. Domoic acid neurotoxicity in Native Americans.
• NIH/NCI 2013. Dietary patterns methods project.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

• Aflague, T. (PhD nutrition). Addressing childhood obesity through surveillance, novel assessments, and enhancement of summer enrichment programs in Guam.

Robert V. Cooney,  PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences & Epidemiology

Research Interests
Lipid-soluble antioxidants and vitamins and prevention of chronic diseases of aging.

Recent Publications

• Conroy SM, Maskarinec G, Morimoto Y, Franke AA, Cooney RV, et al.  (2013) Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Circulating Markers of Inflammation and Adiposity in a Nested Case-Control Study: The Multiethnic Cohort.  Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev  2013;22(3):337-47.
• Cooney RV, Chai W, A. A. Franke, Caberto C,  Wilkens LR, et al.  (2013) Plasma Lipid-soluble Micronutrients, C-Reactive Protein and Survival in Colorectal Cancer Patients.  Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev  22(7):1278-88.
• Chai W, Bostick RM, Franke AA, Cooney RV.  (2013) Effects of Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation on Blood Pressure and Serum Lipids and Carotenoids: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Clinical Trial.  Annals of Epidemiology 23:564-70.

Recent Grants

• NIH/NCI  1 RO3 CA169990-01. Markers and mediators of inflammation and survival in colorectal cancer patients.
• NIH/NCI  RO3 CA132149-01. Interactions of coenzyme Q10 with plasma tocopherols and their role in breast cancer prevention.

Treena Wasonti:io Delormier, PhD, PDt
Assistant Professor, Office of Public Health Studies – Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences; CHL Seminar Instructor

Research Interests
Indigenous Peoples’ Health; Public Health; Health Promotion; Nutrition; Indigenous Food Systems; Family Food Practices; Food Security; Community/University research partnerships; Diabetes Prevention; Childhood Obesity Prevention.

Recent Publications

• Taualii M., Delormier T. & Maddock J. (2013) A New and Innovative Public Health Specialization Founded on Traditional Knowledge and Social Justice: Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Health Hawaii Journal of Medicine & Public Health 72(4):143.
• Willows N., Hanley A. & Delormier T. (2012) A Social Ecological Framework to Understand Weight Related Issues in Aboriginal Children in Canada. Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism 37(1):1-13.
• Cargo M., Delormier T., Levesque L., McComber A.M. & Macaulay A.C. (2011) Community capacity as an “inside job”: Evolution of perceived community ownership within a university-Aboriginal community partnership. American Journal of Health Promotion 26(2):96-100.

Recent Grants

• Health Canada, Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative, Food Security Grant (2013-15).
• Northern Contaminants Program – Methylmercury and fish consumption in Tulita NT (2010-2013)

Marie Kainoa Fialkowski, PhD, RD
Junior Researcher, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences
Assistant to the Chair, Nutrition PhD

Research Interests
Nutrition and health in indigenous populations.

Recent Publications

• Fialkowski et al. A community engagement process identifies environmental priorities for change to prevent early childhood obesity in the Children’s Healthy Living Program for Remote Underserved Populations in the Pacific Region (CHL). Matern Child Health J. 2013 Sep 17.
• Fialkowski et al. Dietary patterns are associated with dietary recommendations but have limited relationship to BMI in the Communities Advancing the Studies of Tribal Nations Across the Lifespan (CoASTAL) cohort. Public Health Nutr. 2012; 15(10): 1948 – 1958.
• Fialkowski et al. The Relevancy of Community-Based Methods: Using Diet within Native American and Alaska Native Adult Populations as an Example. Clin Transl Sci. 2012; 5(3):295-300.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

• Matanane L (MS Nutritional Sciences) The influence of community food stores on weight status and fruit/vegetable intake of young children in Guam.

Rajesh Jha, PhD
Assistant Professor of Animal Nutrition
Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences

Research Interests
Feed Evaluation, Gut Physiology and Health, Carbohydrate Metabolism.

Recent Publications

• R. Jha, J. K. Htoo, M. G. Young, E. Beltranena, and R. T. Zijlstra (2013). Effect of increasing co-product inclusion and reducing dietary protein on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and jowl fatty acid profile of grower-finisher pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 91(5):2178-2191.
• R. T. Zijlstra, R. Jha., A. D. Woodward, J. Fouhse and T. A. T. G. van Kempen (2012). Invited review: Starch and fiber properties affect their kinetics of digestion and thereby digestive physiology in pigs. Journal of Animal Science, E-suppl. 90(4):49-58.
• R. Jha., A. Owusu-Asiedu, P. H. Simmins, A. Pharazyn and R. T. Zijlstra (2012). Degradation and fermentation characteristics of wheat co-products from flour milling in the pig intestine, studied in vitro.  Journal of Animal Science, E-suppl. 90(4):173-175.
• R. Jha and P. Leterme (2012). Feed ingredients differing in fermentable fibre and indigestible protein content affect fermentation metabolites and faecal nitrogen excretion in growing pigs. ANIMAL, 6:603-611.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

• Singh, A K (MSc, Animal Nutrition)
• Liu, C (MSc, MBBE)
• Tiwari,  U T (MSc, Animal Nutrition)

Soojin Jun, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences

Research Interests
Emerging food processing and packaging technologies, Food nanotechnologies, and Biosensors.

Recent Publications

• Lee, S.H., Yamada, K., and Jun. S. 2013. Ultraviolet Radiation Assisted with Ohmic Current for Microbial Inactivation in Apple Juice. Transactions of the ASABE 56(3): 1085-1091.
• Nguyen, L.T., Choi W., Lee, S.H., Jun, S. 2013.  Exploring the Heating Patterns of Multiphase Foods in a Continuous Flow, Simultaneous Microwave and Ohmic Combination Heater. Journal of Food Engineering 116(1): 65-71.
• Lu, L. Chee, G., Yamada, K., and Jun, S. 2013. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic technique with a functionalized microwire sensor for rapid detection of foodborne pathogens. Biosensors and Bioelectronics 42: 492-495.

Recent Grants

• 2013, USDA/NIFA, AFRI, Novel Freezing Technique using Combined Pulsed Electric and Magnetic Fields to Maintain the Qualities of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
• 2009, USDA-AFRI, Development of Combined Continuous-Flow Microwave and Pulsed Ohmic Heating Technologies for Rapid and Uniform Heating of Multiphase Foods.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

• Natthakan Rungraeng (PhD, MBBE home): Food nanotechnology
• Seung Hyun Lee (PhD, MBBE home): Food processing
• Jin Hong Mok (MS, HNFAS home): Food freezing
• Kara Yamada (MS, HNFAS home): Biosensor
• Inae Lee (PhD, MBBE home): Food nanotechnology
• Tim Shafel (MS, HNFAS home): Food processing and chemistry

Jodi Leslie, DrPH, RDN
Junior Researcher, Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences
Education Coordinator, Children’s Healthy Living Program

Research Interests
Nutrition; public health; chronic disease; obesity; Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander health; worksite wellness; preventive health; community-based participatory research; epidemiology; complementary and alternative medicine; health policy.

Recent Publications

• Leslie JH, Braun KL, Novotny, R, Mokuau N. (2013). Factors affecting healthy eating and physical activity behaviors among multiethnic blue- and white-collar workers: A case study of one healthcare institution. Hawai‘i Journal of Medicine and Public Health, 72(9), 300-306.
• Leslie, JH, Hughes, CK, Braun, KL. (2010). Engaging Participants in Design of a Native Hawaiian Worksite Wellness Program. Prog Community Health Partnersh, 4(2): 121-130.
• Pobutsky A, Pordell P, Yamashita B, Tomiyasu D, Nihoa W, Kitagawa K, Mikami J, Lowery St. John T, Leslie J. (2004). Community based participatory approaches to address health disparities in Hawai‘i: Recent applications in cancer prevention, detection and treatment programs, cancer prevention in Hawai‘i. Pacific Health Dialog, 11(2),183-190.

Recent Grants

• Designing Healthy Worksites Project, Office of Hawaiian Affairs (2011-2013).
• Designing Healthy Worksites Pilot Project, Office of Hawaiian Affairs (2008-2009).
• Helping Worksites Support Healthy Eating and Physical Activity among Native Hawaiians (a.k.a. Designing Healthy Worksites) – Pilot Project, U01 CA114630-03S2 and U01 CA 114630-04S4, NIH/NCI (2008).

Qing X. Li, PhD
Professor, Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering

Research interests
Proteomics, environmental biochemistry and biotechnology

Recent Publications

• Baker, M.R.; Li, Q.X. 2013. Guanidination tryptic peptides without desalting for MALDI MS analysis. Analytical Chemistry 85(18):8873–8880. PMID: 23964694
• Cho, I.K.; Chang, C.L.; Li, Q.X. 2013. Diet-induced over-expression of flightless-I protein and its relation to flight dysfunction in Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata.  PLoS ONE 8(12): e81099. PMID: 24312525

Recent Grants

• Proteomics Core PI. NIH NIMHHD RCMI, Bioscience Research Infrastructure Development for Grant Enhancement and Success (BRIDGES). 2011-2016.
• PI, Korean RDA. Studies on biological activity of individual g-oryzanol from agro-food. 2013-2015.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

• Margaret Baker (PhD, MBBE), Glycoproteomics
• Shumei Gao (PhD, Biotechnology), Microbial adaption to chemical stresses
• Chelsea Miller (MS, MBBE), Bioremediation
• Jessica Murison (MS, MBBE), Pesticide exposure
• Camila Ortega (PhD, MBBE), Microbial adaption to chemical stresses
• Daniel Roettger (PhD, MBBE), Biodiesel and yeast genomics
• Ruijin Wang (PhD, Plant Pathology), Phosphoproteomics
• Boting Wen (PhD, Biotechnology), Enzyme structure and function

Yong Li, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences

Research Interests
Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Applied Statistics.

Recent Publications

• Kubota, R., Labarre, P., Weigl, B.H., Li, Y., Haydock, P., and Jenkins, D.M. 2013. Molecular diagnostics in a teacup: non-instrumental nucleic acid amplification (NINA) for rapid, lost cost detection of Salmonella enterica. Chinese Science Bulletin 58:1162-1168.
• Dong, J., Kandukuru, P., Huang, A., and Li, Y. 2011. PCR-DGGE analysis of bacterial community dynamics in kava beverages during refrigeration. Letters in Applied Microbiology 53:30-34.
• Liang, N.J., Dong, J., Luo, L.X., and Li, Y. 2011. Detection of viable Salmonella on lettuce by propidium monoazide-real time PCR. Journal of Food Science 76:M234-237.

Recent Grants

• PD, NOAA, Detection and control of Salmonella in ahi and Pacific white shrimp.
• CoPD, USDA-AFRI, New engineered approaches for recovering disperse populations of low-tolerance pathogens from food.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)
Cindy Li (MS Food Science), Recovery of pathogenic bacterial cells injured under food processing conditions.

Gertraud Maskarinec, MD PhD
Professor, Cancer Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center
Program Director, Post-Doctoral Training Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center

Research Interests
Preventative Medicine, Etiology of cancer, Cancer prevention.

Recent Publications

Recent Grants

• R25CA090956 “Nutritional & Behavioral Cancer Prevention in a Multiethnic Population,” 2001-2014.
• Soy Health Research Incentive Program “Measuring novel biomarkers for breast cancer risk in nipple aspirate fluid, serum, and urine during a crossover soy trial among premenopausal women“, 2013-2014.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)
Beckford F (MS Nutrition) Adherence to dietary recommendations and biomarkers of breast cancer risk.

Claudio R. Nigg, PhD, FSBM
Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences

Research Interests
Theories of behavior change, Motivation to engage in health behavior, Exercise/physical activity, Multiple health behavior change, Childhood obesity, Youth, Aging, General Population.

Recent Publications

• Nigg, C., Geller, K., Adams, P., Hamada, M., Hwang, P. & Chung, R. (2012). Successful Dissemination of Fun 5 – A Physical Activity and Nutrition Program for Children. Translational Behavioral Medicine: Practice, Policy and Research, 2, 276-285.
• Ollberding, N. J., Nigg, C. R., Geller, K. S., Horwath, C. C., Motl, R. W., & Dishman. R. K. (2012). Food Outlet Accessibility and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption. American Journal of Health Promotion, 26, 366-370.
• Nigg, C. R., Geller, K. S., Motl, R. W., Horwath, C. C., Wertin, K. K., & Dishman, R. K. (2011). A Research Agenda to Examine the Efficacy and Relevance of the Transtheoretical Model for Physical Activity Behavior. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 12, 7-12.

Recent Grants

• NICHD/NCI/NIDDK (1R01HD057229. Intervention for PhysicaL Activity in Youth – IPLAY: The Impact of an Environmental and Curriculum Change on Children’s Obesity Related Behaviors.
• SAMSHA & Hawaii DOH Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division. State Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) Epidemiology. Epidemiological lead of the HI SPF-PFS project relating to statewide adolescent alcohol prevention.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

• Michelle Rathke, (PhD, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences). Peer influence on adolescent nutrition and physical activity.
• Phoebe Hwang, (DrPH, Department of Public Health Sciences). Dance as physical activity for older adults.
• Katie Amato, (DrPH, Department of Public Health Sciences). Agriculture and Culinary curriculum for adolescent health.
• Tricia Usagawa, (DrPH). An Investigation of Hula as a Culturally Appropriate Physical Activity for Health Promotion.
• Michelle Tagorda, (MPH, Department of Public Health Sciences).
• Kim Takata, (MPH, Department of Public Health Sciences).
• Rhoda Castillo, (MPH, Department of Public Health Sciences).
• Tamara Smith, (MPH, Department of Public Health Sciences).

Rachel Novotny, PhD RD LD
Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences
Chair, Nutrition PhD

Research Interests
Nutritional epidemiology, global nutrition, breast feeding and growth.

Recent Publications

• •Novotny et al. University of Hawai’i Cancer Center Connection: The Pacific Way to Child Wellness: The Children’s Healthy Living Program for Remote Underserved Minority Populations of the Pacific Region (CHL). Hawaii J Med Public Health. 2013 Nov;72(11):406-8.
  •Novotny et al. Pacific Tracker 2 – expert system (PacTrac2-ES) behavioural assessment and intervention tool for the Pacific Kids DASH for Health (PacDASH) study. Food Chem. 2013 Oct 1;140(3):471-7.
  •Novotny et al Prevalence of Childhood Obesity among Young Multiethnic Children from a Health Maintenance Organization in Hawaii. Child Obes. 2013 Feb;9(1):35-42.

Recent Grants

• US-NZ Health Research Council of NZ 2013.  Monitoring Alliance for NCD Action (MANA Pasifika).
• USDA 2011-68001-30335, Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) Program.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)

• Esquivel , M (PhD Nutrition). Wellness policies for Headstart to decrease prevalence of obesity in CHL.

Maria Stewart, PhD
Assistant Professor, Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences

Research Interests
Dietary fiber (fiber content of foods and physiological effects in humans), impact of bioactive dietary components on chronic disease risk, functional food development and marketing, prebiotics, probiotics, microbial metabolism, gut health, in vitro digestion and fermentation (model human digestive system).

Publications

• Vong MH, Stewart ML. In vitro bacterial fermentation of tropical fruit fibres. Beneficial Microbes. 2013, 4(3): 291-295.
• Chiu YC, Stewart ML. Effect of variety and cooking method on resistant starch content of white rice and subsequent postprandial glucose response and appetite in humans. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2013, 22(3):372-379.
• Stewart, ML. Schroeder, NM. Dietary Treatments for Childhood Constipation: Efficacy of Dietary Fiber and Whole Grains. Nutr. Rev. 2013  71(2):98-109.

Recent Grants

• Gut Reactions: a pilot study linking digestive health with ethnicity and chronic disease risk in Hawaii. Period of Support: 10/1/2012-9/30/2014. Agency: USDA-Hatch. Award: $41,162
• Revealing the hidden health benefits of Hawaii grown avocado through nutrition education. Period of Support: 2/1/2013-5/30/2014. Agency: USDA-Specialty Crops Block Grant Farm Bill via Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Award: $25,000
• Improving health outcomes through nutrition: the glycemic index of high-amylose rice. Period of Support: 2/1/12-9/30/13. Agency:  USDA-Hatch. Award: $30,000

Tetsuzan Benny Ron, PhD
Specialist, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences

Research Interests
Research Interests: Endocrinology, Genetics & Extension.

Recent Publications

• Ron et al.  Effects of melatonin on reproduction in the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Invited paper at the Journal of Comparative Endocrinology – Special Issue – Perspectives in Endocrinology of Cichlids. 2014.
• Khedkar et al. High levels of genetic diversity in Penaeus monodon populations from the east coast of India. SpringerPlus. 2013, 2:671.
• Ron, T. B., and McLain, B., (Invited paper in preparation). Aquaculture training on-line learning (ATOLL) program. The Israeli Journal of Aquaculture – Bamidgeh. 2014.

Recent Grants

• USDA-NIFA 2013. Exploring Market Acceptance, Demand And Food-Safety of Aquaponics Produce: Federal State Marketing Improvement Program.
• NOAA-NMFS-PIRO 2013. Aquaculture Training On-Line Learning Phase 3.

Current Graduate Students (Chair)
Steck, M. (M.S. Marine Biology Graduate Program). Effects of dietary tryptophan and melatonin and the melatonin generating system on reproduction in tilapia.

C. Alan Titchenal, PhD, CNS
Associate Professor, Human Nutrition, Food, & Animal Sciences

Research Interests
Nutrition & human performance; non-anemic iron deficiency.

Recent Publications

• Iversen CS, Nigg C, Titchenal CA. The impact of an elementary after-school nutrition and physical activity program on children’s fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, and body mass index: Fun 5. Hawaii Med J. 2011 Jul;70 (7 Suppl 1): 37-41.
• Murakami S, Kurihara S, Titchenal CA, Ohtani M. Suppression of exercise-induced neutrophilia and lymphopenia in athletes by cystine/theanine intake: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2010 Jun 4;7(1):23.
• Lai, JF, Dobbs, J, Dunn, MA, Tauyan, S, and Titchenal, CA.  Inconsistent values for iron content complicate recommending clams as an iron source. J Food Comp and Analysis. 2009;22S:S78–S82.

Recent Grants

• Integrated HATCH project, “Expanding Awareness of the Contribution of Iron Deficiency to Common Health Problems.”
• Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, “Evidenced-Based Research for More Appropriate Public Health Nutrition Education.”

Current Graduate Students (chair)

Jinzeng Yang, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences

Research Interests
Skeletal Muscle Growth, Obesity, Diabetes Prevention and Epigenetic Priming of the Metabolic Syndrome.

Recent Publications

• Yang J. 2014. Enhanced skeletal muscle for effective glucose homeostasis. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 121:133-63.
• Li Z, Zeng F, Mitchell AD, Kim YS, Wu Z, Yang J. 2011. Transgenic overexpression of bone morphogenetic protein 11 propeptide in skeleton enhances bone formation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 416: 289-92.
• Kim KH, Kim YS, Yang J. 2011. The muscle-hypertrophic effects of clenbuterol is additive to the hypertrophic effext of myostatin suppression. Muscle Nerve 43:700-707.
• Li Z, Kawasumi M, Zhao B, Moisyadi S, Yang J. 2010. Transgenic Over-expression of Growth Differentiation Factor 11 Propeptide in Skeleton Results in Transformation of the Seventh Cervical Vertebra into a Thoracic Vertebra Molecular. Reproduction and Development 77: 990-997.
• Zhao B, Li EJ, Wall RJ, Yang J. 2009. Coordinated patterns of gene expression for adult muscle build-up in transgenic mice expressing myostatin propeptide. BMC Genomics. 10:305-315.
• Zhao B, Wall RJ, Yang J. 2005. Transgenic expression of myostatin pro peptide prevents diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 337:248-255.